Following two critically acclaimed runs, Proforca Theatre’s critically acclaimed Flashbang returns to London’s Lion & Unicorn Theatre for two performances only ahead of a UK tour.
noun: flashbang
1. a grenade that produces a bright flash and a loud noise so as to stun or disorient people without causing serious injury; a stun grenade.
Set in a town “twenty miles from anywhere important”, the play follows five best mates growing up together, navigating nights out, shared history and the unspoken bonds that hold them together, until something shifts and everything changes.
At its heart are loveable, recognisable young men, written with humour, warmth and honesty. The play reflects the lived experience of growing up in small towns, capturing the rhythms of friendship, identity and the pressure to hold everything together as life begins to move on.
Told through movement, music and direct address, Flashbang combines high-energy storytelling with emotional precision, creating a piece that is both immediate and deeply affecting.
Robert Wolfe, Charlie Jobe, Haydn Watts and Ben Watts each play Ryan as well as different friends. Flashbang is written by James Lewis and directed by Proforca and Lion & Unicorn artistic director David Brady.
Following the 7.30pm performance on Tuesday 5 May 2026, I’ll chair a discussion with the new Flashbang tour cast, followed by a celebration of other upcoming work at the Lion & Unicorn.